4Boston is 涩里番下载's largest weekly service organization. Volunteers serve four hours each week of the academic year with community partners in the social service, healthcare, or education sectors and engage in one hour of group reflection centered on community, social justice, and spirituality.
What We Do
Build community with our partners and among our small groups of volunteers, through both engagement and reflection.
Consider the policies and structures that create unjust conditions for our neighbors, while seeking to understand our responsibility in resisting and transforming injustices we encounter in our world.
Grow as spiritual beings, attentive to the ways that God moves through our work and reflection.
Important Dates
4Boston Application Deadline
Friday, September 13th at 11:59 p.m. EST
4Boston Orientation
Sunday, September 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST
Location: Various
听4Boston Retreat & Teach-In
Sunday, February 16th, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST
Location:听Lyons Dining Hall
Sending 4th听
听Sunday, April 27th, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. EST
Location: TBD
4Boston provides students with a significant extended urban encounter, enriched by regular opportunities for reflection and analysis in keeping with the Jesuit tradition of contemplation-in-action.
4Boston also strives to provide reliable, consistent support to Boston-area agencies that work with and on behalf of the city's poor and marginalized.
This work inevitably raises universal questions of life's meaning and purpose. While we rely on the Judeo-Christian tradition to address these and other issues, people of all faiths and those of no specific religious affiliation are welcome to participate in 4Boston.
It is our firm belief that action without reflection risks despair, and reflection without action risks irrelevance, and it is our explicit hope that 4Boston students will grow intellectually, morally, and spiritually through regular service to others and disciplined reflection on that service.
Three pillars guide the work of 4Boston鈥: Community, Spirituality, and Social Justice. We aim to create a sense of community with our partners and among our small groups of volunteers, both in service and reflection. We are committed to not only meeting immediate needs through our engagement in the community, but considering the policies and structures that create unjust conditions and learning about our roles in resisting and transforming the injustices we encounter in our world. I鈥媙 and through all of this, we seek to grow as spiritual beings, attentive to the ways that God moves through our work and reflection, calling and empowering us to be women and men for and with others, in all times and places.
The Gavel,听Fall 2020
Franciscan Children's, Spring 2018
"Serving the City"
Carroll School of Management Newsletter, June 2018
The Chronicle,听December 2016
The Heights, April 2016
The Gavel, September 2014
The Gavel,听May 2014
The Boston Globe,听May 2014
Casserly House Newsletter, Spring 2014
The Gavel,听February 2014
The Heights,听September 1999
Through participation in 4Boston students will:
- Engage their communities beyond 涩里番下载, through regular volunteering, civic advocacy, and professional discernment
- Cultivate regular spiritual practices and habits of discernment and reflection.
- Identify systemic pathways of injustice, consider their individual privileges and proximity to marginalized communities, and incorporate their daily understanding of these systems and experiences in daily choices.
What is the volunteer application process?
Interested students should attend an information session before applying online via the Campus Ministry website. Information sessions are typically held in late August and early September of each year and provide the chance to learn more about the various community partners and day-to-day experiences with 4Boston.
ALL participants, both new and returning, must complete an online application each fall. The application asks for basic personal information, brief short-answer responses (for new applicants only), and schedule availability. From there, applications are reviewed and students may or may not be invited to interview to be matched with a 4Boston community partner.听Due to the high volume of applicants and matching process, students鈥 maximum reported schedule availability on their online application is the greatest predictor of a successful volunteer match.
What is the time commitment?
Participating in 4Boston is a significant, year-long commitment, from October to April. We ask all volunteers to dedicate a minimum of 5 hours per-week. Additionally, we ask all participants to attend three-four mandatory program events throughout the year.
How do volunteers get to community partners?
4Boston relies heavily on the MBTA for transportation to and from community partners, and annually distributes Charlie Cards to volunteers. Most 4Boston volunteers use these cards to take the train or bus to their community partner. 4Boston also distributes a select number of Lyft codes each year, reserved exclusively for volunteers serving at sites that are difficult to access via MBTA. A few 4Boston partners are within walking distance from 涩里番下载鈥檚 campus. Additionally, some students with access to a vehicle and parking may choose to drive themselves or carpool to their shift.
What do volunteers do?
4Boston鈥檚 community partners broadly span the categories of: Healthcare (i.e. Perkins School for the Blind), Social Service (i.e. St. Francis House), Education (i.e. EVKids).
Within these categories, however, the work of 4Boston varies widely, including a foot washing clinic, disability care and education, eldercare, preschool, adult education, prison education, after school mentoring, classroom support, shelters for adult men and women, and youth shelters.
Do I have to be Catholic to participate?
Our volunteer work and small group reflections raise universal questions of life's meaning and purpose. While 4Boston relies on the Judeo-Christian tradition and Ignatian Spirituality to address these and other issues, people of all faiths and those of no specific religious affiliation are welcome to participate in 4Boston.
What paperwork do volunteers need to fill out in order to participate?
Each 4Boston community partner requires a different set of intake forms before volunteers are able to start, including, but not limited to:
- Vaccination records
- Background checks
- Fingerprinting
Once matched with a community partner, volunteers should confirm with their student leader what documents, if any, they need to submit. All volunteers must attend the 4Boston Commissioning in September鈥攕ite-specific paperwork and orientations will be covered at this event.
What happens when my Charlie Card runs out?
Charlie Cards are distributed at the 4Boston Commissioning in September of each year.
If you need a replacement Charlie Card you can collect a new one during office hours from the 4Boston Student Office located in Carney 373.
To confirm 4Boston office hours, contact Joseph Citera
How do I get a 4Boston shirt?
Shirts will be available for purchase . Shirts can be purchased or picked up during 4Boston office hours. All volunteer shirt pre-orders will be distributed at the 4Boston Fall Retreat.
To confirm 4Boston office hours, contact Joseph Citera.
What if I have a conflict and can鈥檛 attend a volunteer shift or reflection?
We expect that 4Boston volunteers will not miss more than four (4) volunteer shifts or reflections per year or two (2) volunteer shifts or reflections each semester.
If a volunteer knows they will be late/absent to a volunteer shift, they must notify their Student Leader AND Volunteer Coordinator 48 hours before via email or text message.
If a volunteer knows they will be tardy/absent to a reflection, they must notify their Student Leader 24 hours before via email or text message.
If a volunteer is found to be missing more than the allotted number of shifts or reflections, they will be asked to meet with the Program Director to determine whether their priorities are aligned with the 4Boston鈥檚 goals; extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration by the Program Director and Student Leaders during this discussion.
Who do I talk to if...?
- I need a letter of recommendation.
- I have a great idea for a new 4Boston partner.
- I have a great idea for a small group reflection.
- I have a great idea for a keynote speaker for a 4Boston event.
- I'd like to promote an event/fundraiser that's happening at my community partner site.
- There's been an incident at my volunteer shift or in my reflection.
Please don鈥檛 hesitate to reach out!
Joseph Citera, Program Director
For general inquiries, contact us at: 4bostonvolunteers@bc.edu
4Boston鈥檚 application for new and returning volunteers is now open!听
All questions should be directed to the Program Director, Joe Citera听and the 4B Graduate Assistant, Markie Darryl V. San Juan
Students are placed on a first come听first serve basis according to mutual availability.
Please review the prior to submitting your application.
Applications will be accepted through Friday, Sept. 13 at 11:59 p.m.听 Due to the volume of applicants, late applications will not be accepted.听
Leader Applications will be made available in the Spring semester.
Thank you for considering a donation to 4Boston. Your tax-deductible donation is a valuable investment in a learning experience that many 涩里番下载 students will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
To Donate Online:
Visit the Online Giving Form
Enter your information; for the field "I wish to make my gift to:鈥 select 4Boston. [If you are sponsoring a certain student, please select "In honor of a 涩里番下载 student," and include their name and year.]
Click "Submit Gift"
To Mail a Check:
4Boston
涩里番下载, Office of Campus Ministry
McElroy Commons 233
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
If your corporation matches donations, please enclose the appropriate forms.
4Boston, under the umbrella of the 涩里番下载, is a non-profit 501(c)3 with a federal tax exemption number of 04-2103545.
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Program Director
Joseph Citera
McElroy 122
Graduate Assistant
Markie Darryl V. San Juan
Executive Board
Carmela Musso
Cassidy Owens
Lily Wang Luo
Zach Schroeder
Gianna Gallagher
Office Hours: 2024-2025
TBD
Our office hours are held in Carney 373. Feel free to walk-in or
For general inquiries, email:听4bostonvolunteers@bc.edu
Are you a current 4Boston Volunteer?
We invite all alumni of 4Boston to keep in touch and share stories of life with and after 4Boston.
Are you a 4Boston alumni? We want to stay in touch! !
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